HANSHIN DIRT 18 Apr 2026
GOING:
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THE ANTARES STAKES 1800m Track: |
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Plenty of speed runners engaged, with Meursault, Pikapika Thunder and June Aoniyoshi prominent. SUNDAY FUNDAY (8) went forward and proved too strong when resuming last time out, scoring by 2.5 lengths over 1800m in the G3 March Stakes at Nakayama Dirt. Nicely placed to play a pivotal role in a similar race. MEURSAULT (4) pushed forward when resuming last time and boxed on to finish a neck away in second over 2000m in Listed grade at this track. Should be prominent again from the low draw. Meeting a tougher field but on his best form he is one of the key runners. BRIAN SENSE (1) did a mighty job last time to finish fourth over 1600m in the G1 February Stakes at Tokyo Dirt. Has five wins at the trip. Among the winning hopes in this far easier race. TAGANO BABYLON (3) came home strongly last start to finish second, beaten a nose, over 1800m at this track when coming back from a break. Kohei Matsuyama who has scored on him twice retains the mount. Up in class but must be respected.
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| 1 | 56144 |
BRIAN SENSE
M SAITO 6YO DK B HORSE 57.0KG Masamichi Hayashi Racing well recently. Comes off a 55 day let-up. Most recently 4th of 16 at Tokyo Dirt in the G1 February Stakes on February 22 over 1600m, 1.75 len behind Costa Nova with 58.0kg at $40.60. The run before that ran on from midfield; 4th of 16 at Kyoto Dirt in the G2 Procyon Stakes on January 25 over 1800m, 0.9 len behind Lord Couronne with 57.0kg at $5.50. Encouraging effort last start. In the mix. |
1 MIRAI IWATA |
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| 2 | 211x3 |
MOKKU MOKKU
RYO TERASHIMA 6YO BROWN HORSE 57.0KG Masayuki Yamaguchi Second-up. First-up after two months 3rd of 16 at this track on March 22 over 1800m, long-neck behind T O Granville carrying 58.0kg at $7.50. Previously second-up 2nd of 9 at this track on September 6 over 1800m, 3.5 len behind Tripolitania with 58.0kg at $9. Don't underestimate. |
2 YUTAKA TAKE |
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| 3 | 1x4x2 |
TAGANO BABYLON
SHOTA NISHIZONO 4YO BAY HORSE 57.0KG Ryoji Yagi Having second run back today. Last outing 2nd of 16 at this track on March 22 over 1800m, nose behind T O Granville carrying 58.0kg at $3.70. At only start last preparation 4th of 16 at this track in LR on December 21 over 1800m, 3 len behind Le Cheval D'or carrying 56.0kg at $3.10. Improver with winning prospects. |
3 KOHEI MATSUYAMA |
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| 4 | 1x1x2 |
MEURSAULT
Y IKEE 5YO BAY HORSE 57.0KG Yuji Hasegawa Racing second-up today. Not raced for 49 days. Last run sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 16 at this track in LR on February 28 over 2000m, neck behind June Aoniyoshi with 58.0kg at $2.30. At only start last preparation favourite; won by a neck at Kyoto Dirt November 22 over 1900m defeating Hagino Sustainable carrying 58.0kg at $1.70. Even fitter and is an excellent winning chance. |
4 RYUSEI SAKAI |
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| 5 | 40x00 |
HUG
K FUJIOKA 4YO BAY HORSE 57.0KG Yoshizawa Holdings Co. Ltd Third-up today. Comes off a 41 day let-up. First-up raced on the speed throughout before fading 10th of 15 at Kokura Dirt on February 1 over 1700m, 5 len behind Kotohodo Sayoni with 57.0kg at $8.30. Second-up 10th of 15 at Nakayama Dirt on March 8 over 1800m, 6 len behind Break Forth with 57.0kg at $15.30. Looks tested again. |
5 RIKI TAKASUGI |
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| 6 | x0130 |
LE CHEVAL D'OR
Y YAHAGI 5YO BAY HORSE 57.0KG Lion Race Horse Co. Ltd. Last start raced on the speed throughout before fading second last of 16 at this track on March 22 over 1800m, 11 len behind T O Granville carrying 60.0kg at $3.30. The run before that sat on the pace when 3rd of 16 at Kyoto Dirt in the G2 Procyon Stakes on January 25 over 1800m, 0.6 len behind Lord Couronne with 57.0kg at $12.70. Better than that recent lacklustre performance suggests. |
6 ATSUYA NISHIMURA |
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| 7 | 5x868 |
PEISHA ES
N TAKAGI 7YO CHESTNUT HORSE 58.0KG Naoto Kitajo At the latest run 8th of 15 at Nakayama Dirt in the G3 March Stakes on March 29 over 1800m, 7 len behind Sunday Funday with 58.5kg at $8.30. Before that 6th of 16 at this track in LR on February 28 over 2000m, 2.25 len behind June Aoniyoshi with 59.0kg at $35.60. Prefer others. |
7 KANTA TAGUCHI |
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| 8 | 0x2x1 |
SUNDAY FUNDAY
AKISHI HIGASHIDA 6YO BAY HORSE 58.0KG Yoshizawa Holdings Co. Ltd Second-up today. Last start won by 2.5 len at Nakayama Dirt G3 March Stakes March 29 over 1800m defeating Action Plan with 59.0kg at $12.80. At only start last preparation sat on speed throughout when 2nd of 16 at Kyoto Dirt in the G2 Procyon Stakes on January 25 over 1800m, neck behind Lord Couronne carrying 58.0kg at $43.40. Only needs to hold that form to be winning again. Improver with winning prospects. |
8 YAMATO TSUNODA |
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| 9 | x1x0x |
PIKAPIKA THUNDER
Y SHIKATO 4YO BAY HORSE 57.0KG Kakamucho Racing Resuming. Only had one start last campaign didn't do much in the run home; 13th of 16 at Kyoto Dirt on February 7 over 1900m, 10 len behind Z Lien carrying 56.0kg at $7.80. Won previous preparation first up won by 1.5 len at Tokyo Dirt October 18 over 2100m defeating Not Enough carrying 56.0kg at $2.30. Marginal prospects. |
9 KOSEI MIURA |
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| 10 | 61x7x |
J PALMS
N HORI 6YO DK B GELDING 57.0KG M's Racing Resuming. Only had one start last preparation 7th of 16 at Kyoto Dirt in the G2 Procyon Stakes on January 25 over 1800m, 3.5 len behind Lord Couronne with 57.0kg at $5.50. First up last campaign 6th of 11 at Tokyo in the G2 Mainichi Okan on October 5 over 1800m, 4 len behind Lebensstil with 57.0kg at $57.40. This is an ideal race to kick off. Top hope. |
10 DAMIAN LANE |
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| 11 | 1x660 |
HAPI
R OKUBO 7YO DK B HORSE 57.0KG Toshio Terada Comes here off a 49-day let-up. At the latest run 10th of 16 at this track in LR on February 28 over 2000m, 4 len behind June Aoniyoshi with 58.5kg at $7.20. The run before that 6th of 16 at Kyoto Dirt in the G2 Procyon Stakes on January 25 over 1800m, 3 len behind Lord Couronne with 57.0kg at $16.20. Hard to imagine a top-three finish. |
11 H MIYUKI |
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| 12 | 22x90 |
SAIMON XANADU
SHINYA KOBAYASHI 6YO CHESTNUT HORSE 57.0KG Akinori Sawada Third-up today and won third-up previously. Not raced for 55 days. First-up 9th of 16 at Kyoto Dirt in the G2 Procyon Stakes on January 25 over 1800m, 5 len behind Lord Couronne carrying 57.0kg at $6.70. Last start second last of 16 at Tokyo Dirt in the G1 February Stakes on February 22 over 1600m, 14 len behind Costa Nova with 58.0kg at $66.60. Easily accounted for last time out but this suits. |
12 K IKEZOE |
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| 13 | 431x6 |
MEISHO ZUIUN
M HONDA 4YO BAY HORSE 57.0KG Yoshitaka Matsumoto Second-up. First-up after three months 6th of 16 at this track on March 22 over 1800m, 2 len behind T O Granville carrying 58.0kg at $23.30. Previously second-up 2nd of 12 at Chukyo Dirt on December 1 2024 over 1800m, 1.0 len behind Miraieno Kagi carrying 56.0kg at $6.40. Needs more time. |
13 KEISUKE DAZAI |
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| 14 | x11x0 |
SLAZAK
H ONEDA 4YO CHESTNUT HORSE 57.0KG Masaya Oku Second run back. First-up after six months 10th of 16 at this track on March 22 over 1800m, 4 len behind T O Granville with 58.0kg at $57.10. Previously second-up won by 0.8 len at this track September 28 over 1800m defeating Chronicle with 55.0kg at $3.60. Fitter but must improve sharply. |
14 YOSHIHIRO FURUKAWA |
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| 15 | x17x9 |
LORD LABYRINTH
TAKESHI MATSUSHITA 4YO BAY HORSE 57.0KG Lord Horse Club Co. Ltd. Second-up. First-up after three months faded in the straight 9th of 16 at this track on March 22 over 1800m, 4 len behind T O Granville carrying 58.0kg at $19.30. Previously second-up 7th of 16 at this track in LR on December 21 over 1800m, 4 len behind Le Cheval D'or carrying 56.0kg at $16.90. Must improve significantly. |
15 KATSUMA SAMESHIMA |
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| 16 | 29x01 |
JUNE AONIYOSHI
TAKESHI MATSUSHITA 6YO BROWN HORSE 57.0KG Jun Yoshikawa Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resumes off a 49 day letup. First-up raced on the pace before fading 14th of 16 at Kyoto Dirt on February 7 over 1900m, 14 len behind Z Lien carrying 57.0kg at $13.10. Second-up won by a neck at this track LR February 28 over 2000m defeating Meursault carrying 56.0kg at $25.70. Latest form makes this a pretty tough assignment. |
16 S HAMANAKA |
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